2025 -- H 5440

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LC001393

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ARREST

     Introduced By: Representatives Craven, Corvese, and Shanley

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2025

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 12-7 of the General Laws entitled "Arrest" is hereby amended by

adding thereto the following section:

     12-7-1.1. Detention by university or college security.

     (a) The governing board of any private state-charted institution of higher education which

maintains a campus or other real property for educational purposes may establish a security, public

safety office, or similar department, which employs or contracts with special police officers, public

safety officers, security personnel or similar individuals. The appointment of special police officers,

and the powers granted to those individuals shall be governed by chapter 2.1 of title 12. If so

appointed by an institution, other duly trained members of such a department, including non-sworn

public safety officers and security guards may, without a warrant, detain any person for any

criminal offense, whenever the public safety officer or security guard has reasonable grounds to

believe that an offense has been committed within the jurisdiction of that public safety officer or

security guard and the officer or guard has reason to believe that the person being detained, is

responsible for the commission of said criminal offense.

     (b) Any public safety officer or security guard that detains any individual for the suspected

commission of a criminal offense shall immediately request assistance from either the state police

or the local police department having jurisdiction over the private college or university and shall

not detain any person beyond a reasonable period of not greater than thirty (30) minutes, while

waiting for state or local police assistance.

     (c) All public safety officers and security guards employed by any private college or

university subject to this section shall be trained in the proper use of restraint devices and shall

abide by locally or nationally recognized use of force policies.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ARREST

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     This act would permit non-sworn public safety officers and security guards at private

colleges and universities, to detain individuals for no longer than thirty (30) minutes, within the

campus jurisdiction, when the officer or guard has reasonable grounds to believe that the person

has committed a criminal offense.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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